Global report, United Kingdom

Lost in action British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, centre, and his EU counterparts take a break in the gardens at Chevening, his retreat inKent PATRICK TSUI/FCO

BREXITBorder backstop impasse

A significant impasse over the issue of the Northern Ireland border has increased the likelihood of a Brexit deal being achieved only at the last minute, if at all, after a deal could not be reached in time for this week's scheduled European Union leaders' summit in Brussels.

Discussions appeared to have been held up by renewed differences on the so-called backstop arrangement insisted on by the EU to prevent a hard Irish border. The Northern Irish Democratic Unionist party, which props up May's slim majority in parliament, has threatened to withdraw government support if a backstop arrangement is agreed that would mean Northern Ireland remained in the EU customs union separately from the rest of the UK.